A Look at Young People (1/2)

If we take a careful look at young people, we will be able to conclude that they are generally of three categories: the upright, the corrupt, and the confused.

Upright young people

Upright young people are believers - in every sense of the word. They believe in their religion in such a way that they love it and are convinced by and content with it. They regard embracing if as profit and denial of it as a clear loss.

They sincerely worship Allah alone and follow the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)  in their words and deeds because of their belief that he was truly a Messenger of Allah and that he is the leader that should be followed.

They observe salah (obligatory prayer) perfectly to the best of their abilities because they believe in its temporal, eternal, and social benefits and advantages as well as in woeful consequences of its neglect for individuals and nations.

They pay zakah (obligatory fixed alms) fully to those who deserve it because they believe that it satisfies the needs of Islam and Muslims: a reason that makes it one of the pillars of Islam.

They fast in the month of Ramadan and abandon their desires and pleasures, whether in winter or summer, because they believe that it pleases Allah and therefore give what pleases Him preference over their own desires.

They perform the obligatory pilgrimage (Hajj) to the Sacred House of Allah because they love Allah and as a result love His House. They go to places of His mercy and forgiveness and share their experiences with their Muslim brothers and sisters who also visit those places.

They believe that it is Allah who created them as well as the heavens and the earth because they see in the signs of Allah that which leaves no iota of doubt or reluctance in the fact that Allah exists. They see in this universe - vast and marvelous in its shape and order - a decisive proof of the existence, the perfect ability, and the extreme wisdom of its Creator for it is impossible for it to create itself. They know it is also out of the question for it to exist accidentally because it was non-existent before it was created and a thing that is non-existent cannot make another exist because the thing itself is non-existent. They realize it is unfeasible for the universe to exist accidentally because it has a wonderful and symmetrical order that does not change or deviate from the path on which it is destined to move. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

 “...But you will never find in the way of Allah any change, and you will never find in the way of Allah any alteration.” (Qur'an, Surah Fatir, 35: 43)

He (Glorified and Exalted be He) also says:

 “... You  do  not  see  in  the  creation  of  the  Most  Merciful  any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued).”        (Qur'an, Surah Al-Mulk, 67: 3-4)

If it is agreed that this universe possesses such a marvelous and well-arranged order, it is impossible for it to have existed accidentally because whatever accidentally exists will, as a result, be prone to changes and disruption at any moment.

The upright youth believe in Allah’s angels because He speaks about them in His Book and because His Prophet (Peace be upon him) also spoke about them in the Sunnah. The Qur’an and Sunnah contain many of their descriptions, acts of worship, and the works they carry out that are for the benefit of all creatures, which give us clear-cut evidence of their real existence.

They believe in the Books of Allah which He revealed to His Prophets,  that with them they may guide humankind  to the straight path, because it is impossible for human intellect to perceive  the  detailed  benefits  inherent  in  acts  of  worship  and human interaction  without  divine  guidance.

They believe that Allah's Prophets and Messengers were sent to call people to all that are virtuous, enjoin all that is good, and forbid all that is evil so that the human race should have no plea against Allah after the coming of the Messengers.  The first of them was Adam and the last of them was Muhammad, may the best of blessings and peace be upon all of them.

They believe in the Last Day: the day people will be resurrected after their deaths in order to be rewarded for their deeds.  Whoever  does  an atom  weight  of good  will see it and whoever does an atom weight of evil will see it (Qur'an, Surah Al-Zalzalah, 99:7- 8), for that is the result of this life. IT this were not so, what then is the logical  reason  behind it if humankind does not have a day  in which good-doers will be rewarded for their good deeds and evil­ doers  will be compensated  for their evil acts?

They believe in predestination, including that it can be good or evil. They accept that everything is in accordance with Allah's ordainment  and  predestination,  while  believing  in  causes  and effects  and  that  prosperity  and  misery  have  their  respective causes.

These young people practice their religion with total sincerity to Allah, His Messenger, Muslim leaders, and Muslim common folk.[1] They deal with their fellow Muslims with the straightforwardness and clarity with which they would like to be treated. Treachery, malpractice, crookedness, or hiding facts have no place in their dealings.

They call to the way of Allah with clear knowledge and in accordance with the methods explained by Allah in His Book. Allah, the Exalted, says:

 “Invite to the way of your Lord   with   wisdom   and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best...” (Qur'an, Surah An-Nahl, 16: 125)

They  enjoin  all  that  is  good  and  forbid  all  that  is  evil because  they  believe  that  the  prosperity  of  communities  and nations  lies  in  that  which  Allah  has  specified  in  the  glorious Qur'an:

 “You are   the   best   nation   produced   [as   an   example]   for humankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah...”                                             (Qur'an, Surah Ale-Imran, 3: 110)

They strive to change all that is evil according to the method recommended by the Prophet (Peace be upon him) when he said: “Whoever of you sees an evil action let him correct it with his hand, and if he is unable to do that then with his tongue, and if he is unable to do so men with his heart.”[2] (Recorded by Muslim)

They speak and accept only the truth because of their understanding that truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to paradise, and that a person keeps on telling me truth until he or she becomes a truthful person[3].

They  love  what  is  good  for  their  Muslim  brothers  and sisters because  of their belief in the hadith:  “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim)

They are aware of their responsibilities to Allah, the Ummah, and their countries and they always strive for the benefit of the religion, the Islamic nation, and their homelands - far from selfishness and pursuance of personal interests at the expense of other people's interests.

They strive in the way of Allah with His assistance and because of Him only. They strive with sincerity to Him without intending to be seen or heard by people. They strive while seeking assistance from Allah without self-admiration or depending on their wits and energy alone. They strive in the way of Allah within the framework of His religion without exaggeration or negligence. They strive with their words, hands, and property in accordance with the needs of Islam and Muslims.

They are religious and possess good conduct. They are well-mannered, religiously upright, lenient, magnanimous, noble, good-hearted, extremely patient, and tolerant but decisive. They do not waste opportunities or allow sentiments to overpower their sense of reason and the establishment of peace and order.

The balanced and orderly young people work wisely and silently with perfection and quality. They do not waste any opportunities in their lives but rather utilise them in what is of benefit to them and their Ummah. These young people, though they preserve their religion, conduct, and manners, are nevertheless abstentious from all that negate these virtues, such as kufr (disbelief), atheism, profligacy, disobedience, indecent manners, and bad dealings.

These young people are a pride for this Ummah and the symbol of its life, its prosperity, and its religion. They are those whom we hope Allah will use to repair the Muslims' damaged condition and illuminate the way for the followers of the right path. They are those who shall attain the bliss of this world and the next, Allah willing.

 (Continued)